MommyCoddle

Rules for My Unborn Son

(I promise, there is nothing subliminal in the title of this post. I'm not hinting at anything.)

But I am LOVING this book
that arrived in the mail last week. It is written by Walker Lamond and each page holds bits of wisdom that he has written for….his unborn son.

From St. Martin's Press, it is called, Rules for My Unborn Son
.

Here are a few samples, though it was hard to pick just a few. Things every man and boy should know, don't you think? :

Never pack more than you can carry yourself.

Be a vigorous dancer. However, you're under no obligation to join a conga line.

Don't pose with booze.

Don't shout out requests at rock shows.

You can't cram for a dental exam.

Have a signature dish, even if it's only one.

Write letters. On paper.

Take your sunglasses off indoors. This includes elevators and planes.

Be nice to your sister. You are her cheerleader, confidante, and bodyguard.

Never respond to a critic in writing.

This book is packed with great advice and wisdom. Dan and I found ourselves sitting at the dinner table a few nights ago reading and nodding our heads as we flipped through every page. It made me wonder what advice I'd put in a book for my daughters. It made me wish the book were required reading for manhood.

I think it would make a great shower gift, a great birthday gift, a great father's day gift. I'm adding it to my list and sending my copy on to one of my favorite men, as soon as I read it a few more times.

And who knows, I may be asking for it back in a few weeks time….

I'm curious, what advice would you put in a book for your son or daughter?What bits of wisdom would you want them to carry through life?

(I promise, there is nothing subliminal in the title of this post. I'm not hinting at anything.)

But I am LOVING this book
that arrived in the mail last week. It is written by Walker Lamond and each page holds bits of wisdom that he has written for….his unborn son.

From St. Martin's Press, it is called, Rules for My Unborn Son
.

Here are a few samples, though it was hard to pick just a few. Things every man and boy should know, don't you think? :

Never pack more than you can carry yourself.

Be a vigorous dancer. However, you're under no obligation to join a conga line.

Don't pose with booze.

Don't shout out requests at rock shows.

You can't cram for a dental exam.

Have a signature dish, even if it's only one.

Write letters. On paper.

Take your sunglasses off indoors. This includes elevators and planes.

Be nice to your sister. You are her cheerleader, confidante, and bodyguard.

Never respond to a critic in writing.

And who knows, I may be asking for it back in a few weeks time….

I'm curious, what advice would you put in a book for your son or daughter?What bits of wisdom would you want them to carry through life?

20 Comments

cracking the whip

I like to think that I get more organized with the birth of each child. In reality, I think it almost becomes necessity. And that must be why my grandmother, with 15 children, seemed to have an efficient method or system for just about everything. I learned so much from her.

I’ve been feeling the urge “to crack the whip” (as my mother would say) around here the past few weeks. I’m at the point where my body isn’t able to do all that my mind knows needs to be accomplished. I can’t get it all done by myself. And my children are definitely eager to help when I present it well.

They love a system. A routine. (And anything in chart-form that hangs on the refrigerator.)

One of our usual “nagging sessions” comes in the morning and the evening as I dole out the daily chores. Who’s going to feed the chickens? Who did it yesterday? Who feels like they always have to let out the chickens?

I’m finding that this simple visual system is saving me boatloads of nagging and the jobs are getting done much more smoothly.

The chart I’m using is from Joan Goldner at BusyBody Books. She makes great planners, but this blank 7 column grid pad is by far my favorite. It’s 3 hole punched and magnetic. Ours hangs on the fridge. (I also got an email in my inbox from BBBooks last week. They are moving warehouses and having great sales right now…)

I’d love to hear what chores your children help out with around the house. Do you have a system? A chart? A list? How do you crack the whip? 🙂

They love a system. A routine. (And anything in chart-form that hangs on the refrigerator.)

I’m finding that this simple visual system is saving me boatloads of nagging and the jobs are getting done much more smoothly.

I’d love to hear what chores your children help out with around the house. Do you have a system? A chart? A list? How do you crack the whip? 🙂

25 Comments

art with children / HOMESCHOOLING

things she loves

I completely owe this idea to a picture I found on Eren's photostream. It was the perfect find, not only because it was the day before Valentine's, but also because I was looking for something a little "light" for our school day that afternoon.

At Christmas I had purchased a three-pack of painting canvases for the girls and stashed them away–forgetting to put them under the tree. They were perfect for this project.

On each canvas I painted the text. That day, the girls sat at their desks and started brainstorming on a piece of paper all the things they loved…they kept their paper handy and as inspiration hit, they jotted something else down. (Can you tell what book Emma just finished reading?)

They were so into this project. It was so much fun. It kept such a positive focus. And they revisited it over and over. In fact, I still catch them pulling their canvases down from the ledge where they hang and adding something new.

I painted in acrylics. They wrote with my set of colored sharpies.

And I can't recommend this simple, fun project enough.

P.S. Click here for a "translation" of Mary's words.

At Christmas I had purchased a three-pack of painting canvases for the girls and stashed them away–forgetting to put them under the tree. They were perfect for this project.

I painted in acrylics. They wrote with my set of colored sharpies.

And I can't recommend this simple, fun project enough.

P.S. Click here for a "translation" of Mary's words.

17 Comments